E. NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

National Engagement is responsible for outreach to national organizations of parents, teachers, advocacy groups, think tanks, associations, foundations and the business community, as well as for special-focus outreach, including Hispanic, African American, Native American, Asian, and other populations, with special emphasis on under-served groups. The office also conducts outreach to the corporate community by promoting business and community partnerships for learning—providing information and resources to educators, business and community members who are interested in establishing and accelerating partnerships. The office helps businesses, foundations, nonprofit organizations, non-governmental associations and selected work groups connect their resources with education officials who are working to promote and support improvement in education. The unit is managed by a Deputy Assistant Secretary for National Engagement.

Stakeholder Engagement Services

Stakeholder Engagement Services reaches out to key national education associations, organizations, and constituencies, including parents, businesses, youth, higher education, professional associations, and the Hispanic, African American, Asian Pacific Islander, American Indian, and other communities. The unit sponsors national meetings with Department officials to keep the public informed and promotes networking opportunities among meeting participants. It also supports the work of the White House Initiatives and coordinates with the policy office to assure accuracy of information.

Teacher Engagement Services

Teacher Engagement Services is responsible for building direct relationships with teachers across the country and includes the Teaching Ambassador Fellows Program of 12- 16 full-time and part-time “teachers in residence,” who inform the Department on the concerns of teachers and serve as resources of information about the Department for the public. This team is responsible for a current Website designed specifically to meet teachers’ needs, a teacher newsletter, on-going roundtables with teachers, advising the Secretary and others on policy and issues of importance to teachers, and reaching out to teachers.